HE KNEW it was going to be the biggest test of Season 7 thus far, and while he conceded giving Naarm a “head start” was not part of the plan, Brisbane AFLW coach Craig Starcevich was pleased his troops could steady the ship and run out 15-point winners.

The Round 4 match at Casey Fields saw two undefeated heavyweights go at it in a clash that lived up to expectations. Naarm lead at each break after booting the first three goals of the game, but Brisbane responded with six of the next seven to enjoy a 6.6 (42) to 4.3 (27) victory on the road.

Starcevich said he was feeling “pretty good” about the victory despite the slow start, where by Kate Hore‘s second goal in three minutes – and Naarm’s third in the first eight minutes – had the Lions trailing 19-0.

“Obviously giving them a head start at the beginning, we’ve probably come off some games where the heat hasn’t been applied to us early like it was by Melbourne today so for us to withstand that, and actually fight our way back and get our noses in front and run away like that was really good,” Starcevich said.

“I always look at territory and inside 50s in the first quarter and we actually lead the inside 50s for the first quarter. Even though we were two goals down on the scoreboard. There’s more to it than what the scoreboard’s telling us. But it can rattle players when they see that we’re under that type pressure, particularly scoreboard wise. It was good for them to compose themselves, get back into the contest, graft away and find a way to get the result.”

The statistics were pretty even across the board for the teams, with the hitouts going Brisbane’s way 26-24, but the clearances going Naarm’s way, 26-25. After bringing the heat early, the Demons had to absorb a massive 18 tackles inside their defensive 50 as the Lions gradually turned the tide, and slammed home three last quarter goals. That final term resulted in Brisbane turning a four-point three quarter time deficit into a 15-point win.

Though his side did have the composure to come back and win, Starcevich hoped his side would have been able to “graft away” a bit earlier and not have to rely on a strong last quarter to run over the top of a determined Demons outfit.

“Credit to the opposition, we’re not playing a team that’s not going to be contending, we’re playing a really good side,” Starcevich said. We weren’t ready for the heat they brought early, it took us a while to get to that tempo. But once we did I thought we competed pretty well.”

For the Lions, the win was something of a drought-breaker, having lost to Naarm in the past five matches, including that heartbreaking defeat at the MCG on preliminary final day last season. Starcevich was quick to point out that in those defeats, the Dees had only just got the better of them.

“We’ve lost games, but they’ve all been by a small margin, so we look back and say ‘we’ve been in the contest for every one of those games and haven’t quite got the result,” he said. Even here this is only our fourth game at Casey and now we’re two and two. Even though it’s been five years between drinks.

“That’s the pleasing thing, to be able to do something at a venue that’s a little bit out of your comfort zone. The weather today wasn’t great, you’re playing against a good oppo’. All of that combined makes this game particularly difficult, and I was just so glad we were able to keep pushing, get the result.”

Outside the on-field result, Starcevich praised the work of returning defender Sharni Webb, who was able to fight her way back into the team and compete strongly in the back five.

“Sharni was terrific,” Starcevich said. “She’s obviously had her little girl in the last 18 months or so and all the challenges that come with trying to get back to a professional athlete and earlier this year in Season 6, that was a real battle for her.

“We just feel now that she’s just starting to find that spark and athleticism that she had prior to her pregnancy, so that’s really pleasing because I know we’re full of admiration, her teammates are as well, they’ve lived through her through that period and they all love her little girl. It’s a really a good one for our group from a morale point of view.”

Next week the Lions take on Richmond at Punt Road Oval, with Dee Heslop expected to return to the side, and no new injuries to report on. Starcevich said the next month of action would test his side further, with a trio of tough games set to be a big challenge for the Lions.

“We’ve got Richmond next Saturday so that’s around the corner so we’re back here for that one,” he said. Then we’ve got Adelaide, North and Collingwood at the backend of the year as well so we’ve got some big games still to come. To get the wins against the genuine contenders is very pleasing.”